Jiang Xiaoyu had never been to a proper market fair before, but she had seen videos online. They were always lively and full of variety, with all kinds of snacks and rare things you could buy. She had always enjoyed watching those market videos.
In this era, the big market fairs were held to make trading easier for farmers. Whatever was grown in the fields, picked from the mountains, or raised at home could be brought out to sell. After selling, people would buy daily necessities to take back home.
The main consumers, however, were still nearby residents and workers. That was because many agricultural and handmade goods at the market did not require ration tickets as long as the price was agreed upon. It made shopping much more convenient.
There were potatoes, sweet potatoes, and napa cabbage everywhere, along with pots and jars, homegrown millet and peanuts, and even sesame oil pressed at home. Some farmers, in urgent need of money, even brought laying hens to sell.
“Hubby, I want to buy these three hens and raise them at home for eggs,” Jiang Xiaoyu said.
She quickly calculated in her mind. The price of about a hundred eggs could buy two laying hens. These hens had only been raised for a year and could still lay eggs for several years. When they stopped laying, they could still be stewed into soup. It was very cost-effective.
Mu Chengfeng originally wanted to say that raising chickens was troublesome and messy. With his salary, the family could easily afford eggs every month without worrying.
But when he saw his young wife’s expectant eyes, he changed his words.
“Alright, I’ll build a chicken coop when we get back. Call me by my name outside.”
Jiang Xiaoyu was overjoyed. Under good conditions, each hen could lay about two eggs a day, or at least one. Except in winter, that output was stable. The three hens would guarantee at least forty eggs a month. Even though eggs could still be bought now, once the coming famine worsened, that might no longer be the case. Having chickens at home meant at least a steady supply of eggs.
When they later bought dried shrimp and kelp, she changed her tone again.
“Mu Chengfeng, let’s buy more kelp. It can be used in so many dishes, and it doesn’t spoil.”
She liked kelp a lot. Dried kelp could be stored for a long time, and you only soaked as much as you needed each time. Very convenient.
Since the one who cooked made the decisions, Mu Chengfeng did not object to these small matters. He told her to buy whatever she wanted without asking him. However, hearing her call him “hubby” did feel more pleasant.
With Mu Chengfeng helping carry things, she bought the three hens, dried sea cucumber, kelp, dried fish, and dried shrimp. She even found fish maw from a large yellow croaker.
That was fish maw.
Ordinary people did not buy such expensive things, costing several yuan per jin. With that money, they would rather just eat fish. A yellow croaker itself only cost a few mao per jin. But Jiang Xiaoyu wanted it, and she insisted on buying it.
She squatted in front of the fisherman’s stall and could not move her eyes away.
Afraid Mu Chengfeng would think she was wasting money, she quickly said, “I’ll use my own salary to buy one jin. I’ll pay for it myself.”
The fisherman immediately seized the opportunity. “Take a look, this fish maw is very dry and can be stored for years. It’s the best dish to serve guests. If you buy one jin, I’ll give you an extra liang of small pieces.”
Mu Chengfeng was knowledgeable about such goods. Fish maw was a tonic ingredient, usually given as gifts. Large yellow croaker fish maw like this was indeed rare.
His young wife really knew her goods.
He asked, “If you buy it, will you let us all eat it together?”
Jiang Xiaoyu quickly nodded. She was not someone who would eat alone.
Mu Chengfeng smiled. “Then use the family budget. Buy two jin. We’ll eat it, and buy more later when it’s finished.”
Jiang Xiaoyu felt incredibly happy. Only in a 1960s coastal area could you get such high-quality fish maw for a few yuan per jin. For a moment, she even forgot about the coming famine.
It felt like celebrating the New Year.
They bought a large variety of things. Jiang Xiaoyu’s bamboo basket alone weighed over twenty jin. But she was happy carrying it because they were stocking up. Mu Chengfeng carried even more, at least forty to fifty jin, mostly grain, enough for over a month of food.
Damei and Second Sister also carried vegetables they had bought from farmers, enough for several days.
Before returning home, Jiang Xiaoyu asked, “Damei, Second Sister, aren’t you going to buy anything? You each have two yuan. It’s fine to spend a little.”
Mu Jinzhi held her two yuan tightly. She liked everything but did not want to spend it. Everything they needed had already been bought by their stepmother, so spending more felt wasteful. She wanted to save it for when it was truly needed.
“Mom, I don’t need anything. I want to save it,” she said.
“You don’t want candy figures? They’re only five cents,” Jiang Xiaoyu asked.
Damei shook her head, and Second Sister also did not want any. She said she would save it for books when school started. The youngest child stretched out his hands, so they bought four candy figures for two mao total. Each child and Jiang Xiaoyu got one, and the little one happily licked his while holding it.
Five cents for one candy figure was not expensive, but buying four still added up.
In total, Jiang Xiaoyu had spent over a hundred yuan that day.
She felt a little embarrassed. “Hubby, did I spend too much today?”
Mu Chengfeng felt that some things were unnecessary, like a few bamboo boxes since they already had cabinets, and various clay jars. But she said they were for organizing storage. Everything had a purpose. Larger items that could not be carried were already sent back earlier by car with someone from the compound.
But hearing her call him “hubby” again, he suddenly felt that money was not important.
“It’s not much. Everything you bought is useful for the family. Nothing is wasted. You still have over a hundred left from the two hundred I gave you. You’re very good at managing the household.”
Jiang Xiaoyu felt quite pleased with herself too. She had actually restrained herself from buying many things and only chosen necessities.
The items sent home earlier were already stacked at the entrance. Aunt Hua and her daughter-in-law were curiously examining them.
Since they had left early in the morning, it seemed like a long trip, but they were actually back before ten.
Mu Chengfeng was not eating at home. “Can you handle putting things away yourself? I’ll move anything heavy when I come back tonight.”
“Alright. Will you come back for dinner?” Jiang Xiaoyu asked.
“I’m not sure. Don’t wait for me. If I’m late, I’ll eat on my own,” he said.
Having such a considerate “boss” satisfied her completely.
“Hubby, goodbye. Oh, if your office has any unused newspapers, bring some back.”
“Alright. How much do you need?”
“Just enough so no one says my husband is taking advantage of things,” she replied casually.
Mu Chengfeng’s face turned slightly red, and he quickly left for work.
Ke Xiu watched in surprise. She had never seen Mu Chengfeng blush before. But this little wife really was bold, calling her husband so affectionately in public. That “hubby” made even others feel shy, yet Mu Chengfeng seemed to enjoy it.
Aunt Hua also frowned slightly. “Why did you buy so many things? Can all these jars and baskets really be used?”
Jiang Xiaoyu, who had once run a food account and loved organizing everything neatly, immediately began explaining.
“These are all cheap, and I’ve planned their uses.”
“This big clay jar is for millet, this one for flour, this one for rice. Clay jars don’t get mice. These bamboo baskets are for sweet potatoes and potatoes, and this one for fresh vegetables. These jars are for dried goods so they don’t mix smells.”
She quickly sorted everything while speaking. Her hands were extremely efficient, whether from natural talent or years of being independent.
Because Mu Chengfeng preferred simplicity, their new three-room house was almost empty. Even the kitchen shelves were bare, so organizing everything was quick.
Damei and Second Sister helped lift the jars, placing heavier items below, frequently used ones in the middle, and rarely used ones above. In a short time, everything was neatly arranged. Grain went into jars, vegetables into baskets, dried goods into sealed containers. Not a single smell mixed, and the whole place looked orderly and satisfying.
“Mom, does this make things easier to take? The dried mushrooms you left last time were hidden underneath and even got moldy because you forgot about them. These jars and baskets didn’t even cost much. Why not buy them?” Jiang Xiaoyu said.
Aunt Hua nodded after seeing it. It really was better this way. Jiang Xiaoyu even labeled each container so everything was clear at a glance.
“Alright. Next market we’ll go too, but you should buy less. We don’t need so much.”
Ke Xiu smiled and winked at Jiang Xiaoyu, then hugged her mother-in-law’s arm. “Mom, I’ll listen to you.”
At noon, Jiang Xiaoyu showed off her cooking skills, making fried eggs with noodles for a luxurious meal.
After eating, the children took naps. Damei refused to rest and went to pull weeds in the yard.
“Mom, I’m not tired,” she insisted.
Sigh. This child’s hardworking nature would need to be slowly corrected.
Not long after, Ke Xiu rushed over.
“Xiaoyu… are you still sleeping? Several children have been sent to the compound. Come with me and take a look.”